Texas Tech Innovation Hub Welcomes Five Distinguished Faculty as Ambassadors through the Faculty C-Startup Grant Program.
The Texas Tech Innovation Hub is delighted to announce the 2023-2024 cohort of Faculty Ambassadors for the Faculty C- Startup (Commercialization) Grant Program. This program, which has been running for 5 years, encourages faculty from the Texas Tech System to embed commercialization principles into their classrooms. It does so by awarding each faculty “Ambassador” a $2500 grant and provides commercialization training for these faculty, so that they can serve as entrepreneurial catalysts for their respective departments.
With over 35 faculty already named as Entrepreneurial Faculty Ambassadors, this program has significantly enhanced awareness of the Innovation Hub's initiatives throughout the university and emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary I&E programming across the Texas Tech System. This program has led to new startup formation, creative industry collaborations, development of new Innovation Hub programs, and new funding opportunities for faculty and students. Over 1,000 students have been introduced to commercialization best practices through this program.
"Our esteemed Faculty Ambassadors stand as champions of the Innovation Hub. They embody the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, actively nurturing a culture that permeates through students and fellow faculty. Their impact goes beyond imparting knowledge; they possess the power to kindle the flame of curiosity, serving as catalysts for creativity and innovative thinking.”
The Faculty C-Startup Program garnered the distinguished accolade of “Most Innovative Program” at the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) Awards, held during the International Conference in Detroit, Michigan on April 25th, 2023. This esteemed recognition by InBIA not only speaks to the program's excellence but also its prestige and impact.
The 2023-2024 Innovation Hub Faculty Ambassadors are:
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Dr. Michelle Alcorn, assistant professor in the Department of Hospitality and Retail Management
Faculty C-Startup Course: Services Marketing for Hospitality and Retailing (HRM 4316)
Students will participate in a course project where they will choose their own company based on their innovation and entrepreneurship. The students will visualize their business ideas using the BMC.
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Dr. Howard Mori, associate professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine
Faculty C-Startup Course: Inquiry, Investigation, & Innovation (SVM 6211)
By the end of the course, students will understand the research innovation cycle, draft business plans for innovation projects, evaluate peers' pitches at a TTU Innovation Hub event, and present on the opportunities and challenges of commercializing innovation in Life Sciences and related sectors.
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Dr. Lauren Sullivan, assistant dean in the TTUHSC School of Nursing, Office of Admissions & Students Affairs
Faculty C-Startup Course: Honors College Seminar in Healthcare
Students will collaborate on the “Next Big Idea” project applying design thinking process for creating innovative solutions to the world's complex healthcare problems! Students will record a 60-second video explaining their idea.
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Dr. Bingxin Qi, lecturer in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Faculty C-Startup Course: Mathematical Statistics for Engineers & Scientists (MATH 3342)
Students will work on group projects where they are required to use statistical analysis to identify a problem in their community, create a business model canvas to address the problem, and use Lean LaunchPad methods to test their business model in the real world.
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Dr. Xuantong (Tony) Wang, assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences
Faculty C-Startup Course: Geographic Information Science & Technology
Students in this course will have the opportunity to work on a project where they identify a gap in the geospatial data science market and use the Business Model Canvas and Lean LaunchPad methods to develop a business plan and strategy for launching a new product or service.